Heritage Council of NSW
Annual Report
1999 - 2000
FROM THE CHAIR
In December 1999 I completed my first term as Chair of the Heritage Council. I was very pleased to agree to the Minister’s request to extend the appointment for a further two years.
I have visited many more parts of the State in this role during the past year - places like Dubbo, Coolah, Cowra, Canowindra, Newcastle, Macquarie Marshes and Port Macquarie. I have also spoken to groups as diverse as the Royal Australian Historical Society, the Newcastle City Council and the National Trust. I have also attended launches and functions organised by the Heritage Office. And of course there have been many opportunities to spread the heritage message through the media.
These visits, and the conversations and discussions that go with them, constantly reinforce my conviction that heritage does matter to most people. Most of us understand that we need to maintain and build on our connections with the past. Not for sentimental reasons, but because it is those connections that ground us in the here and now. We need them to make sense of our lives and our aspirations.
I have been particularly pleased this year to see all the work in preparing the Heritage Curriculum Materials Project finally come to fruition with the distribution of these innovative units to all primary schools in the State. It is vital that cultural heritage forms a normal part of the school curriculum so that the rising generation of school students has a better understanding of the need to conserve and pass on to future generations the places and objects that are important to us. I congratulate the Department of Education and Training and the partnership with the Heritage Office that has produced these wonderful resources.
The past year has seen great improvements to the NSW heritage system resulting from the Heritage Act amendments that came into effect in April 1999. In particular, the transparent process for listing places on the State Heritage Register has added significantly to the positive image of heritage and has aroused great interest in the community.
I thank all those consultants, community groups and individuals who are working in such a focused way to respect and understand our legacy from the past. This is indeed a collaborative effort by the whole community. It is only through our joint endeavour that the new generation will itself have a legacy to pass on to their own children.
Hazel Hawke Chair Heritage Council of New South Wales
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REPORT OF THE HERITAGE COUNCIL OF NEW SOUTH WALES 2000
The Heritage Council of NSW is appointed by the NSW Government to:
· provide advice on heritage matters to the Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning;
· recommend items of State significance for listing on the State Heritage Register;
· recommend the interim protection of potential heritage items so that an assessment of their significance can be made;
· determine proposed changes to items on the State Heritage Register to retain the items’ heritage significance; and
· advise the community on heritage issues.
Its membership reflects a cross-section of community, government and conservation expertise.
State Heritage Register
The State Heritage Register is a list of heritage items of particular importance to the people of NSW. This may include items of particular importance to specific groups in the community, such as Aboriginal communities, religious groups or people with a common ethnic background. An item is listed on the Register when the Minister of Urban Affairs and Planning agrees to the Heritage Council’s recommendation that it is of State heritage significance.
Once the item is listed major changes to the item require the Heritage Council’s approval. The Heritage Council’s role in considering applications for change is to endeavour to retain the item’s heritage significance.
The Heritage Council decides the criteria that are used to assess items to be included on the Register and advises the community how they should be applied.
Development Approvals
The Heritage Council has three different functions in relation to development approvals:
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1. Consent Authority
Managing change to heritage items involves choices between those changes that are likely to retain their heritage significance and those which could diminish it.
Recognising that unused items can quickly decay through neglect or vandalism, the Heritage Council aims to encourage new uses and practical changes. This maintains the continuing life of heritage items and places.
The Heritage Council is the joint consent authority with the local council (and sometimes with other State agencies) for approving changes to items on the State Heritage Register.
2. Advice to Other Consent Authorities
Other agencies, particularly local councils and the NSW Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, regularly refer matters to the Heritage Council. The Heritage Council’s advice on these matters is confined to heritage impacts and related issues, while recognising that the other authority may need to take other factors into account to achieve a practical solution.
3. Participation in Committees
Heritage Council members are involved in public and private sector committees set up to find solutions for development proposals involving heritage items. The contribution of Heritage Council representatives is directed in such committees to retaining heritage significance and the effective continuing use of heritage places.
The Heritage Council was established under the Heritage Act 1977. Under amendments to the Act in December 1996, membership increased from 12 to 15, providing for changes to the composition of the Council to broaden its scope and specialist skills.
Twelve of the Council’s fifteen members are appointed by the Minister. In addition to the Chair, six of the appointed members are required to hold specialist knowledge or skills in any of the following:
Aboriginal heritage building, development and property industries conservation of environmental heritage corporate promotion local government movable heritage natural heritage
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property rights of citizens rural interests.
A further five members are appointed by the Minister from nominees of the following organisations:
Department of Urban Affairs & Planning Labor Council of NSW National Trust of Australia (NSW) Royal Australian Historical Society Royal Australian Institute of Architects (NSW) / Royal Australian Planning Institute (NSW).
Three members are ex-officio:
Director-General, National Parks & Wildlife Service Government Architect Director, Heritage Office.
Members have been appointed for varying periods to allow for a staggered pattern of membership, and to provide continuity on matters dealt with by the Council over longer periods of time. A full list of members and their alternates or deputies appears on page six.
The Heritage Council receives technical and administrative support from the Heritage Office.
Hazel Hawke, Chair
Hazel Hawke was appointed the third Chair of the Heritage Council in December 1996. Mrs Hawke is a well-known public figure with an active and lively interest in social issues and community affairs, particularly those involving women, children, the environment and the arts.
She has been a member of the Board of the Australian Children’s Television Foundation since 1984. Mrs Hawke’s public relations skills are particularly important as the Heritage Council continues to broaden its outlook and create stronger relationships with the community. Since her appointment as Chair of the Heritage Council, she has made many successful visits across the state. Her most important role is to encourage the community to decide for themselves what heritage means to them and to become involved in helping to protect that heritage.
Mrs Hawke’s appointment was extended in December 1999 for a further two years.
Michael Collins, Deputy Chair
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Michael Collins is the principal of Michael Collins and Associates, which specialises in providing property consultancy and land economics expertise to both the public and private sectors. He is a land economist, a registered valuer and a licensed real estate agent with extensive experience in property agency and real estate consulting. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Valuers and Land Economists in both the valuation and land economy divisions, and is currently Vice-President of the Institute. He was appointed to the Heritage Council as an alternate member in 1996 and as a Member in 1997. He became Deputy Chair of the Council in January 1999.
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Members of the Heritage Council Alternate Members
Hazel Hawke Chair
Michael Collins Helen Macfarlane (from 1 Deputy Chair December 1999) Jim Barrett Douglas Forrester (until 1 December 1999) Mark Davidson (from 1 December 1999) Professor Richard Mackay Alan Croker Elsa Atkin Graham Quint Representing the National Trust of Australia (NSW) Associate Professor Carol Liston (until 1 December 1999) Associate Professor Ian Representing the Royal Australian Historical Society Jack (until 1 December 1999) Associate Professor Ian Jack (from 1 December 1999) Dr Rosemary Annable Representing the Royal Australian Historical Society (from 1 December 1999) Louise Cox AM (until 1 December 1999) Mary-Lynne Taylor (until Representing the Royal Australian Institute of Architects 1 December 1999) (NSW Chapter) and the Royal Australian Planning Institute (NSW Division) Mary-Lynne Taylor (from 1 December 1999) Philip Thalis (from 1 Representing the Royal Australian Institute of Architects December 1999) (NSW Chapter) and the Royal Australian Planning Institute (NSW Division) Terrence Barnes Bill Bott Joan Templeman Judith Bennett Representing the Labor Council of NSW Joan Domicelj AM Christine O’Brien Evelyn Crawford Jeanette Crew Garry Fielding David Hume Department of Urban Affairs & Planning Brian Gilligan Deputy: (ex officio member) Sue McIntyre (until March Director-General, National Parks & Wildlife Service 1999) Jason Ardler (from March 1999) Chris Johnson Deputy: (ex officio member) Anne Warr Government Architect Rosalind Strong Deputy: Director NSW Heritage Office Reece McDougall (ex officio member) Assistant Director
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NSW Heritage Office
Members of the Heritage Council
Elsa Atkin National Trust (NSW) Elsa Atkin is the Executive Director of the National Trust (NSW), a position she has held since 1993. As well as community-based experience, Ms Atkin has extensive experience working with immigrant communities, at senior levels of the corporate and public sectors, including the ABC, the Australia Council and, in an advisory role, the Evatt Foundation. Ms Atkin was appointed to the Heritage Council in 1999 representing the National Trust. She was an alternate member of the Council from 1996 to 1998. Ms Atkin holds a Bachelor of Arts.
Terrence Barnes Terrence Barnes is the General Manager of Parramatta City Council. He is a Local Government career professional who has occupied senior local government positions for more than 25 years and has worked for two major city councils and four country councils during his career. He has served his professional association, the Institute of Municipal Management, as State President in 1993/4 and 1994/5 and at the highest level as Federal President in 1996. He has travelled extensively overseas and presented papers and conducted workshops on local government in the USA, UK, New Zealand, South Africa, Swaziland and Asia. Mr Barnes was appointed a member of the Heritage Council in 1999. He is a Qualified Local Government Clerk, a Fellow of the Institute of Municipal Management and holds a Certificate of Continuing Professional Development.
Jim Barrett A property developer and company director, Jim Barrett managed the restoration of the Queen Victoria Building and the Capitol Theatre as well as other heritage and conservation projects. Mr Barrett was appointed as a member of the Heritage Council in 1996. He chairs the Heritage Council Approvals Committee, one of the two major Committees of Council which considers development applications for heritage-listed properties.
Mary-Lynne Taylor Jointly representing the Royal Australian Planning Institute and the Royal Australian Institute of Architects A solicitor with experience in local government and town planning law, Mary-Lynne Taylor has worked for many city councils including the City of Sydney Council, advising developers, architects, town planners and other professionals. Ms Taylor is a visiting lecturer in Planning Law at Sydney University, Vice-President of the NSW Division of the Royal Australian Planning Institute and a council member of the Urban Development Institute of Australia. She holds a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Arts.
Evelyn Crawford
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Evelyn Crawford is a member of the Barkandji community from far west NSW. She works in the Resource and Conservation Division of the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning undertaking Aboriginal community consultation as part of the national forestry agreements based in western NSW. Ms Crawford has considerable experience in cultural heritage management. She established and managed the Aboriginal Heritage Division of the National Parks & Wildlife Service and has developed an extensive Aboriginal network throughout NSW. She chairs the Heritage Council’s Aboriginal Heritage Committee. Ms Crawford was appointed to the Heritage Council as an alternate member in 1996 and as a member in 1998.
Joan Domicelj AM Joan Domicelj is a heritage adviser and mediator. She has held the posts of Councillor of the inter-governmental conservation body ICCROM in Rome, Vice-President of the non- government conservation body ICOMOS in Paris, Assessor of the NSW Land and Environment Court, Commissioner of the Australian Heritage Commission and Advisory Councillor, State of the Environment. Her areas of expertise include World Heritage evaluation, environmental planning and cross-cultural dispute resolution. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture and Graduate Diplomas in Urban Design (Edinburgh) and Urbanisme (Paris). She was appointed to the Heritage Council in 1996 and chairs its Movable Heritage Panel.
Garry Fielding Department of Urban Affairs & Planning Garry Fielding is the Executive Director, Planning and Building System Outcome Area, with the NSW Department of Urban Affairs & Planning and is the nominee of the Department’s Director-General on the Heritage Council. He is a town planner and a Fellow of the Royal Australian Planning Institute, of which he is currently the NSW President. Mr Fielding has considerable experience in local planning, having served as City Planner with Maitland City Council, City Planner and later Director of Planning and Development with Newcastle City Council and Director of Planning and Development with Woollahra Council. Each of these roles has involved localities where the balancing of heritage and development interests has been a constant but rewarding challenge. He was appointed to the Heritage Council in 1999. He holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning and a Graduate Diploma in Local Government Management.
Brian Gilligan Director General (ex officio) NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service As Director General of NPWS, Mr Gilligan became a member of the Heritage Council in 1998. Prior to his present appointment, Mr Gilligan was Executive Director Operations for the Environment Protection Authority statewide. He has an extensive environmental record, working with the Board of Hunter Water, the University of Newcastle’s Board of Environmental Studies and the Asian Wetlands Bureau. He holds a Master in Biogeography, a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma of Education.
Chris Johnson
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Government Architect (ex officio) Chris Johnson is the NSW Government Architect and General Manager of Building Design Services in the NSW Department of Public Works and Services. He is the Chair of the Sydney Harbour Foreshores Authority’s Design Review Committee and the Minister’s nominee for the South Sydney Development Corporation, a member of the Central Sydney Planning Committee, a Life Fellow of the RAIA (NSW) and Past President, NSW Chapter of the RAIA. In 1996 he won the RAIA President’s Award. Mr Johnson also chairs the Design Review panel for the Olympic Coordination Authority. He became a member of the Heritage Council in 1995. He holds a Master of Architecture and a Master of the Built Environment.
Associate Professor Ian Jack Royal Australian Historical Society A member of the History Department at Sydney University, Ian Jack has written extensively on historical and heritage issues. Professor Jack was appointed as an alternate member in December 1996 and was also an alternate member of the Heritage Council between 1990 and 1993 and is now chair of the Council’s History Advisory Panel and Religious Property Advisory Panel. Professor Jack has a PhD in history.
Professor Richard Mackay Richard Mackay is Managing Director of Godden Mackay Logan Pty Ltd, Heritage Consultants, and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Archaeology at La Trobe University. With more than a decade of experience as a consultant manager of heritage resources, Professor Mackay is widely published on heritage conservation, and has directed many large archaeological projects, including the Cumberland Street excavation in Sydney’s Rocks area. A former board member of the National Trust, he is Deputy Chair of Jenolan Caves Reserve Trust. Professor Mackay was appointed to the Heritage Council in 1999 and was the alternate for Howard Tanner from 1996-98. He is the Chair of the State Heritage Register Committee and chaired the Archaeology Advisory Panel until May 2000. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and a Master of Business Administration.
Rosalind Strong Director, NSW Heritage Office (ex officio) Rosalind Strong has been the Director of the Heritage Office since its establishment in July 1996 and has led the Office in the implementation of the NSW Government Heritage Policy. This has included significant amendments to the NSW Heritage Act 1977. Mrs Strong’s previous position was Assistant Director-General in the Department of Training and Education Co-ordination, responsible for adult education and vocational training. Mrs Strong has had a long involvement in migrant and multicultural education and this has proved invaluable in widening the focus of the Heritage Council and the Heritage Office in relation to the diversity of the State’s heritage. She became a member of the Heritage Council in 1996. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, Diploma of Education, Master of Education and Master of Arts from the University of Sydney and a Licence es Lettres from the University of Paris.
Joan Templeman
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Labor Council of NSW Joan Templeman is a long standing Executive Member of the Labor Council and was appointed to the Heritage Council representing the NSW Labor Council in 1999 having been an alternate member of the Heritage Council since 1990. Mrs Templeman is an Industrial Officer with the Australian Services Union and has a Bachelor of Economics majoring in Industrial Relations (University of Sydney) and a Graduate Diploma in Labour Relations and the Law. She is involved in several organisations concerned with heritage, particularly labour history and railway heritage. She chairs the Council’s Heritage Incentives Committee.
Members of the Heritage Council who retired during the year
Louise Cox AM Royal Australian Institute of Architects Louise Cox is a Life Fellow of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA), of which she is a former National President. She is also a member of the Royal British Institute of Architects, a Life Member of the National Trust of Australia, a former President of the NSW Chapter of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, and is a Councillor of the International Union of Architects, Asia Pacific Region. Ms Cox has wide experience in both planning and architecture, with particular emphasis on conservation planning and health projects. Ms Cox was appointed as a Member of the Heritage Council in 1996 having been an alternate member from 1993, representing the RAIA and the Royal Australian Planning Institute. She continues to chair the Council’s Fire Access & Services Advisory Panel.
Associate Professor Dr Carol Liston Royal Australian Historical Society Dr Liston is Associate Professor of History at the University of Western Sydney and is the author of several local histories. She is a specialist in 19th century Australian history. Appointed as a member of the Heritage Council in 1993, Dr Liston chaired its History Advisory Panel until December 1999. She represented the Royal Australian Historical Society on the Heritage Council from 1993 to 1999.
Douglas Forrester Alternate for Jim Barrett A solicitor with extensive experience in environmental law, Douglas Forrester is a partner in Abbott Tout Solicitors. He was appointed as an alternate member of the Heritage Council in 1990, representing the property rights of citizens.
Alternate and Deputy Members
Dr Rosemary Annable, Royal Australian Historical Society Alternate for Associate Professor Ian Jack Dr Annable is a consultant historian and archaeologist and has been working in the field of heritage conservation for 18 years. She has undertaken a wide variety of historical and archaeological commissions for government departments (Commonwealth, State and Local), architectural and planning firms and private clients.
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From 1993 to 1998 Dr Annable was President of the Royal Australian Historical Society of which she is also a Fellow.
Formally archivist of the Women's College within the University of Sydney, she is currently honorary archivist of St. James' Church, Sydney's oldest church building. She holds a PhD in history, a Diploma in Prehistoric Archaeology and a Diploma in Museum Studies
Jason Ardler, National Parks and Wildlife Service Deputy for Director-General, National Parks and Wildlife Service Mr Ardler has had 12 years of experience with the National Parks and Wildlife Service as human resources and operations manager, Aboriginal Heritage Division. Currently he holds the position of Manager, Cultural Heritage Division and is responsible for historic and Aboriginal heritage. Mr Ardler is a descendant of the Yuin Nation, NSW south coast and holds a Bachelor of Economics (University of NSW).
Judith Bennett, Labor Council of NSW Alternate for Joan Templeman Judith Bennett is the National Vice President of the Australian Services Union. Since 1996 she as been an Executive Member of the NSW Labor Council and in 1997 was the Labor Council delegate to Israel. Ms Bennett was appointed as an alternate member of the Heritage Council in 1999.
Bill Bott Alternate for Terrence Barnes A farmer from Coreen, Bill Bott is immediate past President of the Shires Association. He has extensive experience as a councillor and as a member of the Planning and Environment Committee of the NSW Local Government Association, the Murray Darling Basin Community Advisory Committee and the NSW Water Resources Council. Mr Bott was appointed as an alternate member of the Heritage Council in 1993.
Jeanette Crew Alternate for Evelyn Crawford Jeanette Crew is a member of the Mutti Mutti community. She is a case manager for Aboriginal Land Claims Investigations, Department of Land and Water Conservation. Ms Crew’s experience in the field of cultural heritage includes a period as Director of the Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place at the University of New England in Armidale. She has also worked extensively on Aboriginal sites, particularly of an archaeological nature, and on Aboriginal women’s issues. While on secondment to the Aboriginal Heritage Division at the National Parks & Wildlife Service NSW, she developed a statewide Aboriginal women’s network which focused on Aboriginal women’s heritage issues.
Alan Croker Alternate for Richard Mackay
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Alan Croker is a conservation architect with more than 15 years experience working on conservation projects in Australia and overseas. He worked with Clive Lucas, Stapleton & Partners before establishing Design 5 - Architects in 1992. Design 5’s projects include a broad range of conservation work and new work in association with old. Projects include Walter Burley Griffin House in Castlecrag, The Governor’s Dairy Precinct at Parramatta and The Argyle Centre in The Rocks. He received the 1997 RAIA Lachlan Macquarie Award for Conservation for the complete conservation works and alterations to Rose Bay Cottage, an original John Verge building. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Architecture) and a Bachelor of Architecture
Mark Davidson Alternate for Jim Barrett Mark Davidson is the Managing Director and a founding shareholder of Trafalgar Corporate. He is the former Head of Property for PricewaterhouseCoopers. Mr Davidson has 20 years experience in the property and capital markets, working in both domestic and international markets. He has operated in all sectors of the industry, with extensive domestic and off-shore experience. He has worked with many "BRW Top 100" corporates and most of the major banks and financial institutions.
Mr Davidson is the immediate past President of the Property Council of Australia (NSW), a member of the City of Sydney Development Advisory Committee, Chairman of the peak industry body the Property Industry Advisory Group and an Associate of the Australian Property Institute.
David Hume, Department of Urban Affairs & Planning Alternate for Garry Fielding David Hume retired as the Director, Executive Unit, Department Urban Affairs & Planning in June 2000. He has worked for the Department for over 20 years and his previous position was Regional Director, Sydney South Branch. Mr Hume has qualifications in Town and Country Planning and began his career with the Department in Grafton. Mr Hume has a Master of Urban and Regional Planning, a Bachelor of Social Science and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education.
Helen Macfarlane Alternate for Michael Collins Helen Macfarlane is a solicitor who specialises in local government and planning law with a particular emphasis on heritage. She acts for numerous councils, including Woollahra Municipal Council, and property owners in the Land and Environment Court She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Law.
Reece McDougall, Assistant Director, NSW Heritage Office Deputy for Rosalind Strong Reece McDougall is the Assistant Director of the NSW Heritage Office. Mr McDougall has over 20 years experience in the environment and heritage fields. He has worked for the National Trust as a Senior Conservation Officer and was also the Heritage Manager for Sydney Water and Environmental Manager for AWT Insight, the commercial arm of the
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Sydney Water Corporation. He is the principal deputy for Rosalind Strong on the Heritage Council.
Christine O’Brien Alternate for Joan Domicelj AM Christine O’Brien is Director of Natural and Cultural Heritage Pty Ltd and is President of Heritage Interpretation International, a group of professional communicators drawn from 40 countries worldwide. She specialises in natural areas and Aboriginal communities, promoting the natural and cultural environment to the community through interpretation, environmental education, training and publicity. Ms O’Brien was appointed as an alternate member of the Council in December 1996. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences, a Master of Arts in Communication and Cultural Studies, a Post-Graduate Diploma of Environmental Studies and a Diploma in Teaching (Science).
Graham Quint, National Trust Alternate for Elsa Atkin Graham Quint is a Senior Conservation Officer with the National Trust specialising in bush regeneration and coastal landscape conservation. For the past 12 years Mr Quint has worked with the National Trust’s Landscape Conservation Committee and has responsibility for overseeing the maintenance and computerisation of the National Trust Register. Mr Quint is an expert field botanist and has classified and campaigned for the conservation of heritage landscapes, buildings, cemeteries and gardens, with a particular interest in heritage cinemas and theatres and cultural heritage sites in National Parks. He has worked for the National Trust for 17 years and is currently the Manager of Information Technology. He was appointed as an alternate member of the Heritage Council in 1999 representing the National Trust. Mr Quint has qualifications in accountancy and in cultural heritage management.
Philip Thalis, Royal Australian Institute of Architects Alternate for Mary-Lynne Taylor With qualifications in architecture and urban design, Philip Thalis has more than 15 years Australian and international experience, specializing in urban projects, master planning and feasibility studies, urban housing, heritage studies and adaptive reuse projects and public consultation.
Mr Thalis is a founding member of Hill Thalis Architecture + Urban Projects, which was established in 1992. He combines the direction of the practice with teaching, research, public lectures and architectural criticism. He is a Trustee of the Historic Houses Trust of NSW and holds a CEAE Architecture Urbaine, a Bachelor of Science (Architecture) and a Bachelor of Architecture (Hons).
Anne Warr, Department of Public Works & Services Deputy for Government Architect Anne Warr was the manager of the Heritage Group within the NSW Department of Public Works and Services from 1990 to 2000. The Heritage Group provides consultative services to government agencies on the conservation of state-owned properties of heritage
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significance. As principal deputy for Chris Johnson in his Heritage Council role, Ms Warr also chaired the Heritage Council’s Conservation Management Plan Committee until its absorption into the State Heritage Register Committee. She has recently joined Sydney City Council as Heritage Manager. She holds a masters degree in conservation studies from the University of York, UK.
Heritage Council Meetings & Committees
The full Heritage Council meets six times each year on the first Thursday of each second month commencing in February. These meetings deal primarily with major policy issues. For the detailed consideration of proposed State Heritage Register listings, approvals for changes to listed items and strategic issues, the Heritage Council has delegated its functions to three committees:
State Heritage Register Committee Professor Richard Mackay (Chair), Michael Collins, Evelyn Crawford, Joan Templeman, Brian Gilligan, Joan Domicelj, Associate Professor Ian Jack, Rosalind Strong.
The Committee is responsible for recommending the listing of items on the State Heritage Register to the Minister and providing expert comment on planning documents for major heritage places. Its work is managed by Ian Kelly, Principal Heritage Officer.
Approvals Committee Jim Barrett (Chair), Elsa Atkin, Terrence Barnes, Mary-Lynne Taylor, Garry Fielding, Chris Johnson, Alan Croker, Rosalind Strong.
The Approvals Committee acts in the Heritage Council's consent authority role. It approves, comments on, or suggests amendments to proposed changes to listed items. Its work is managed by Susan Macdonald, Principal Heritage Officer.
The full membership of the Heritage Council is divided between these two committees, which meet monthly.
Strategy Committee Hazel Hawke (Chair), Michael Collins, Professor Richard Mackay, Jim Barrett, Rosalind Strong.
This committee focuses on strategic issues for the Heritage Council. Its membership comprises the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Heritage Council, the chairs of the State Heritage Register and Approvals committees and the Director of the Heritage Office. Its work is managed by Murray Brown, Principal Heritage Officer.
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Heritage Council / Heritage Office Strategic Plan
The strategic plan 2000-2005 was developed as a joint project of the Heritage Council and the Heritage Office during 1999. It was adopted by the Heritage Council in August 1999. The plan is structured around the major client groups with which the Heritage Council and the Heritage Office need to maintain strong relationships if they are to achieve their strategic mission of helping the community to conserve our heritage:
· heritage promotion and community education; · local government heritage management; · State and Commonwealth government heritage management.
The plan proposes that, during the period 2000–2005, the Heritage Council and Heritage Office will make a significant difference in the following areas:
1. Knowledge of NSW heritage, its significance and conservation The community will have access to quality and timely information about statutory- listed NSW heritage through the State Heritage Inventory and the legislative framework.
2. NSW Government leadership in heritage management The community will recognise NSW Government agencies as leaders in heritage management. NSW Government agencies will model best practice in the management of heritage places.
3. Local heritage management Local councils will integrate heritage conservation into their overall environmental management.
4. Value of heritage to the community The community will celebrate and conserve the State’s environmental heritage.
5. Conservation practice standards The Heritage Council will set best practice standards for heritage conservation.
6. Role & functions of Heritage Council The Heritage Council role and functions will be clearly understood at community and government levels.
7. Support to the Minister and the Heritage Council (Heritage Office only) The Office will provide quality advice to the Minister and the Heritage Council and support the Heritage Council so that it can conduct efficient meetings and make good decisions.
8. Development of Heritage Office and its staff (Heritage Office only)
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The Heritage Office will have a diverse staff with the skills and resources needed to carry out its functions.
See Page 55 for a summary of achievements in implementing the plan during the year.
Heritage Council Advisory Panels
The Heritage Council’s advisory panels provide expert advice to the full Council on a range of conservation and management issues. The committees include members of the Heritage Council with appropriate skills and experience, and also a range of other heritage experts.
Aboriginal Heritage Committee Chair: Evelyn Crawford Aboriginal Community members: Wayne Carr, Colin Walker, Ian Woods, two vacant positions Agency Representatives: Jason Ardler (NPWS), Linden Coombes(DAA), NSWALC (vacant) Heritage Council members: Joan Domicelj AM and Christine O’Brien (replaced during the year by Elsa Atkin and Alan Croker)
The Aboriginal Heritage Committee met on three occasions this year. One major achievement for the committee was the listing of the Brewarrina Fishtraps on the State Heritage Register. The Minister’s Directions Statement placed particular emphasis on the inclusion of Aboriginal places of greater than local significance or of a rare and unique nature on the State Heritage Register.
The committee recommended the funding of 17 projects totalling $171 884 for the Heritage Assistance Program. These projects included works, site surveys, oral histories, education and promotion and a whaling thematic history project.
Previous funding from the program was used to produce the Hornsby Shire Aboriginal Education Kit as a model education kit for all councils. The launch of the kit demonstrated the steps that the Committee and the Heritage Council are taking to include Aboriginal heritage as part of the overall planning process.
Changes in Committee membership included Tony McAvoy being replaced after leaving the Department of Aboriginal Affairs. Christine O’Brien and Joan Domicelj completed their terms and were replaced by Elsa Atkins and Alan Croker as Heritage Council members on the committee.
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Archaeology Advisory Panel Richard Mackay (chair), Caitlin Allen/Mac North (shared position), Anne Bickford, Sarah Colley, Denis Gojak, Tony Lowe, Sue McIntyre, Natalie Vinton.
1999-2000 marked the third and final year of the current panel appointed with the reconstituted Heritage Council in 1997. Over the last year, the Panel contributed significantly to the progress of the Historical Archaeology Review report, the gazettal of the archaeology exceptions under section 139(4) of the Heritage Act and continued to provide high quality advice on specific archaeological sites and archaeological policy to the Heritage Council.
Several Panel members are involved in the planning of a conference for 2000-2001, which will look at issues of historical archaeology, development and public benefit. The new Panel, which has been expanded from 8 to 10 members, will first meet in August 2000 under the new Chair, Dr Rosemary Annable.
Fire Access & Services Advisory Panel Louise Cox (chair), Don Truman (RAIA), Peter Phillips (RAIA), Barry Bourke (with David Wilkie as alternate) (Australian Institute of Building Surveyors), Serge Fijac (with Ross Payne as alternate) (Department of Urban Affairs and Planning), Barry Waite (with Bob Aspinall as alternate) (NSW Fire Brigade) Carol Edds (consultant), Jon Mathias (with David Logan as alternate) (National Trust), Michael Delichatsios (with Ian Williams as alternate) (CSIRO), Stoyan Rogleff (consultant), John Whitlock (consultant), Mark Relf (Australian Quadriplegic Association), Anne Higham (Department of Public Works & Services), George Lim (Local Government Building Surveyors), Trevor Howse (consultant), Ross Murray (with Doug Sullivan as alternate) (Fire Protection Industry Association).
The Panel advises the Heritage Council, the Heritage Office, government agencies, professionals, developers and owners on appropriate ways of meeting fire, service and access requirements in heritage buildings with minimum intrusion to important and irreplaceable fabric. It reviews legislation and fire safety provisions for heritage buildings and promotes research into the fire resistance of traditional building materials. Recent developments in fire fighting technology and their potential application in heritage properties are also evaluated.
The Panel contributes heritage advice on access to heritage buildings for people with disabilities. The Panel also advises on service installations such as air conditioning, security and lifts in heritage buildings and changes to meet occupational health and safety, structural, acoustic and other conditions. The panel includes people with expertise in all these areas.
The Panel is planning a workshop in 2000 on addressing the fire, access and services provisions of the Building Code of Australia and heritage buildings.
Heritage Incentives Committee Joan Templeman (Heritage Council member and Chair), Mark Andrews (Penrith City Council), Elsa Atkin (Heritage Council member and Executive Director of the National Trust), David Ellis (Ministry for the Arts), Dr Carol Liston (Vice President of the RAHS),
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Mary-Lynne Taylor (Heritage Council member and Rosalind Strong (Director of the Heritage Office).
Following a Heritage Council review of its committees in early 1999, the previous Heritage Assistance Committee was renamed the Heritage Incentives Committee. A new focus for the committee will be the review and extension of incentives for heritage conservation.
In July 1999 the Committee resolved to recommend to the August meeting of the Heritage Council approval of 314 projects under the 1999 funding program, including 226 applications under the Heritage Assistance Program totalling $1,339,555, 35 new Heritage 2001 projects totalling $1,195,300 and 53 Heritage 2001 year 2 and 3 projects totalling $2,075,700.
The Committee foreshadowed that further grants involving Aboriginal heritage projects and funding to the National Trust would be put to the October meeting of the Heritage Council. Subsequently a further 24 grants totalling $382,884 were recommended under the Heritage Assistance Program. In total, 338 projects were recommended during the year for funding totalling some $5 million.
The committee recommended that the Heritage Office should review outstanding projects and the program's direction in 2001 and beyond. By the end of the year a review of all projects had commenced and consultants were being appointed to assist in a full review of the program.
The committee also resolved that the heritage funding program for 2000 be limited to targeted on-going support to heritage management by local government and key heritage agencies such as the National Trust, the Royal Australian Historical Society, the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, Keep Australia Beautiful Council and the Great North Road. The limited program was advertised prior to the end of the year with a closing date of 30 August 2000.
History Advisory Panel Dr Carol Liston (Chair to December 1999), Associate Professor Ian Jack (Chair since January 2000), Richard White, Joan Kent, Sharon Veale, Jean Rice (to February 2000), Anna Wong (from February 2000), Rick Shapter.
The Panel met in August and November 1999 and February and May 2000. Members are nominated by the Royal Australian Historical Society, History Council of NSW, Professional Historians Association NSW, National Parks & Wildlife Services Cultural Heritage Division, Department of Public Works & Services Heritage Group, and the Heritage Council’s Aboriginal Heritage Committee. Heritage Office historians, Bruce Baskerville and Tony Prescott, have acted as executive officers to the Panel.
The role of the Panel is to provide advice to the Heritage Council and the Heritage Office on the contribution of history to the identification, assessment and conservation of the heritage
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of NSW and to facilitate communication between the history community and the Heritage Council and Heritage Office.
The Panel’s attention focused on several areas of policy development during the year. The 1998 amendments to the Heritage Act resulted in the gazettal of new criteria for SHR listing. The former criterion of ‘historical significance’ was divided into two new criteria relating to the course or pattern of history, and a strong or special association with a group or person. The Panel developed a guideline for the use of the association criterion, partly based on a similar guideline developed by the US National Parks Service1. The new guideline also provides guidance on using the State historical theme of 'Persons'.
The Panel considered several drafts of the guideline Community-based Heritage Studies and provided valuable feedback to ensure that a professional historian is involved as an integral part of a study team throughout such a study. A strategic plan was adopted by the Panel to inform its activities for the period 2000-2005. This forms a sub-plan of the Heritage Council / Heritage Office strategic plan. The Panel also initiated a discussion that will continue into the next year concerning the revision of the State historical themes and their compatibility with the Australian Historic Themes Framework. All of these issues are also feeding into the revision of the ‘History & Heritage’ section of the NSW Heritage Manual, which will continue in the coming year.
Presentations to the Panel were made by Jennifer Sloggett, ALIA (Local Studies Section), on local studies collections and libraries and their use in local heritage work; Rosemary Block, Oral History Association, on the use of oral history in heritage work; Heritage Office movable heritage officer, John Petersen, on the movable heritage project and consultant, Kate Rea, on the ethnic communities rural consultation project.
Maritime Archaeology Advisory Panel Debbie Hardy (Chair), Antonia Syme (vice Chair), John Riley (vice Chair), Dr John Bach, Kieran Hosty, Staff Officer Rod Smith (RAN), Captain Rob Everett, Judith McDonald, Sgt John Marshall, Robert Lea.
The primary focus of the panel during the last year was to provide advice to the Director of the Heritage Office (as the delegated authority for both the Heritage Council of NSW and the administration of the Commonwealth’s Historic Shipwrecks Act, 1976). This advice was on matters of policy relating to either the general development of the Maritime Archaeology Program or to specific issues.
Major projects in the last 12 months included:
· adoption of a workplan for 2000-2001; · advice on the Maritime Archaeology Strategic Plan; · comment on the development of the Wrecks Alive project; · comment on the development of the Wreck Spotters program;
1 US Department of the Interior, National Park Service, National Register Bulletin #32, Guidelines for Evaluating and Documenting Properties Associated with Significant Persons, the Service, nd.
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· assistance with the conduct of the conference, Pacific Rim - Trade and Migration; and · comment and research for Homebush Bay shipwrecks information sheet.
Movable Heritage Advisory Panel Joan Domicelj AM (Chair), David Ellis (Ministry for the Arts), Kylie Winkworth (author of the 1997 Movable Heritage Taskforce report to the Minister and heritage consultant), Lisa Newell (Randwick City Council), Dr James Broadbent (Historic Houses Trust of NSW), Ian Arthur (Institution of Engineers Australia). The NSW Parks and Wildlife Service was asked to nominate a representative.
This new panel was appointed in February 2000 and replaced the Movable Heritage Reference Group that guided the NSW Heritage Office and Ministry for the Arts Movable Heritage Project from its commencement in 1998.
The panel provides technical advice on movable heritage issues and assists the Heritage Council to maintain a co-ordinated and holistic approach to conserving movable heritage in private and public ownership. At its March and May meetings the panel discussed State Government agency disposal practices and thematic studies for movable heritage. It is liaising with the Aboriginal Heritage Committee on appropriate ways of managing indigenous movable heritage. Religious Property Advisory Panel Associate Professor Ian Jack (Chair), Hector Abrahams (RAIA), Robert Staas (RAIA) Dr Ken Cable (Historian), Father Brian Lucas (Catholic Church), James Mein (Uniting Church), Kevin Stonham (Anglican Church), Jyoti Somerville (Australia ICOMOS), Professor Tong Wu (National Trust).
Much of the State’s most significant built heritage is owned by religious organisations. The Panel, which includes representatives from religious bodies and heritage conservation specialists, seeks to achieve the conservation of significant churches and related heritage items through guidance, encouragement and an understanding of the liturgical and practical management considerations facing religious properties.
In line with the Heritage Council/Heritage Office strategic plan the current primary focus of the Panel is the co-ordination of nominations for the listing of religious properties on the State Heritage Register. The Panel also provides information and guidance on the heritage management of religious property assets, comments on alteration and demolition proposals, and advises on conservation management and adaptive re-use issues. The Panel also liaises with other heritage specialists and decision-makers to ensure that they are aware of the special features of religious heritage and the issues impacting upon conservation and management. The membership of the Panel was expanded during the year to include a representative of Australia ICOMOS.
A highlight of the year was the publishing of papers from the National Conference on the Heritage Conservation of Religious Property. The publication entitled Tradition and
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Change draws together a diverse series of papers addressing the challenges to the conservation and management of religious property in Australia.
Technical Advisory Group Don Godden (Chair), Anne Warr, Dr Don Ellsmore, Harry Trueman, George Gibbons, David Young.
The Group provides advice to heritage professionals and owners about conservation techniques and materials. Its membership includes conservation architects, structural engineers and technical experts in metallurgy, geology, buildings materials testing and paint technology. The Group met four times during the year.
The TAG expert panel contains a large number of technical experts, drawn from many fields, who can be called upon to help solve problems related to materials conservation. This group has two primary functions - to advise the Heritage Council on the latest thinking and emerging issues in conservation techniques; and, importantly, to provide a greatly improved advice service for people involved in practical conservation work.
This year there was a change of focus in how the panel carried out their work. The Group is now more actively involved in assisting in policy issues and providing assistance in the ongoing education and dissemination of best practice methods in heritage conservation. In keeping with this new direction, TAG planned and organized a seminar to disseminate the latest trends and practices in the heritage and conservation profession. The Material Evidence seminar was a joint venture between TAG, the Heritage Office and the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (who provided the venue).
Don Godden chaired his last TAG meeting in May 2000. He will remain a member until the end of the year. The new Chair is Alan Croker.
Site specific Committees and Working Parties
Limited term committees are formed as required to address heritage issues related to particular places or items. This year the committees were:
Archaeology Advisory Panel Research Sub-committee Sarah Colley, Denis Gojak, MacLaren North
Avonmore Terrace, Randwick Jim Barrett (Chair), Louise Cox, Rosalind Strong
Concord Hospital Louise Cox, Ruth Daniell, Alan Croker, Philip Thalis, Chris Johnson
Conservatorium of Music, Sydney Carol Liston (Chair), Michael Collins, Louise Cox, Caitlin Allen
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Orange Court House, Orange Alan Croker, Louise Cox, Ian Jack, Graham Quint, Richard Mackay, MacLaren North, Susan Macdonald
Palisade Hotel, The Rocks, Sydney Jim Barrett (Chair), Graham Quint, Louise Cox, Susan Macdonald
Royal Botanic Gardens, Middle Gardens Shop, Sydney Jim Barrett, Louise Cox, Ian Kelly, Rosalind Strong
St John’s Anglican Church, Paddington Jim Barrett (Chair), Alan Croker, Bruce Edgar
Sir Joseph Banks Hotel, Botany Jim Barrett, Alan Croker, Vince Sicari
The Emanuel School Jim Barrett (Chair), Louise Cox, Bruce Edgar
Walsh Bay, Sydney Howard Tanner (Chair), Kevin Rice, Chris Johnson, Rosalind Strong, Alan Croker
Centenary of Federation Committee
The Chair of the Heritage Council, Hazel Hawke, is a member of the NSW Centenary of Federation Committee and Rosalind Strong is her alternate on the committee. The Heritage Office represents Mrs Hawke on its History and Civics and Community Relations and Grants sub-committees.
Matters dealt with by the sub-committee concentrated on a program of education, history and civics events to be conducted in NSW during 2001. The main events are likely to include an international conference and lecture series on federalism, a schools program of researching and re-enacting federation events, a program of conserving and cataloguing Federation-period documents, a community history project, Federation History and Women’s Achievement awards, and an Aboriginal History Program. Each of these events is planned to continue throughout the year and should provide a substantial and long lasting contribution to the public understanding of federation and federalism in New South Wales.
Significant input was provided from the Heritage Office for the publication, 2001: what are we celebrating?, prepared by Professor Donald Horne and Dr Helen Irving. The Office previously provided editorial review and comment on Professor Bruce Pennay’s landmark publication, Placing Federation, produced to assist local communities in identifying, interpreting and conserving local places associated with the Federation story. This document
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was supported by funding from the Heritage Assistance Program and was widely distributed to communities throughout New South Wales.
Heritage Council Visits
Although the Heritage Council’s home base is Parramatta it also meets in other areas of the state during the year.
For its October meeting the Council travelled to Dubbo on the Western Plains. Dubbo City Council hosted a reception for Council members. Visits included the Western Plains Zoo and the National Trust property, Dundullimal, as well as a tour of residential areas and the city’s historically significant WWII hangars.
In April the Council met in Newcastle. Meetings were held with the Newcastle City Council and a variety of community groups. Members visited the BHP site following a briefing by company executives. A civic reception was held in the evening at Newcastle Town Hall. The following day members visited Christ Church Cathedral, the Convict Lumberyard site, Fort Scratchley and the AA Company House.
For its June meeting the Heritage Council met at the Prospect Reservoir in Sydney’s west. Sydney Catchment Authority and Sydney Water staff were on hand to guide members around this important engineering site.
Heritage Act Amendments
1999/2000 was the first year of operation of the new Heritage Act amendments. The new Act came into effect in April 1999. The amendments are the result of the 1996 NSW Government Heritage Policy and arise from a substantial review of the NSW heritage system, a process which began in 1992.
One of the key changes in the new legislation is the creation of a State Heritage Register as a schedule to the amended Act. The Register will ultimately be a comprehensive list of all the items of State heritage significance in New South Wales.
Items are added to the Register by the Minister, following an assessment of their significance by the Heritage Council and consultation with owners and the community. If disputes arise over a proposed listing the Minister has the option of referring it to a Ministerial Review Panel or a Commission of Inquiry.
Under transitional provisions of the Act State government-owned assets listed on agency section 170 registers as having State heritage significance at the time of the amendments may also be placed directly on the Register by the Heritage Council.
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A central feature of the amendments is the sharing of heritage management responsibility in New South Wales between local councils (for items of local significance) and the Heritage Council, which focuses its consent powers for work on items of State significance. This clarifies in the Heritage Act provisions already required through the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act.
The amendments also clarify requirements for State government agencies to lead the community by example in adopting sound conservation and management practices to maintain the heritage significance of their community heritage assets.
The wilful neglect provisions of the previous Act have been replaced by a requirement on owners of State Heritage Register items to observe minimum standards in weatherproofing, fire and vandalism prevention and essential maintenance. Where these standards are not met and the heritage significance of the item is in jeopardy the Heritage Council now has the power to order repairs after consulting the owner.
The amendments formalise a two-tiered system of heritage management with a strong focus on significance rather than threat as the basis for decisions and a new emphasis on community consultation and involvement.
STATUTORY HERITAGE LISTINGS
Since 1985 the primary responsibility for listing and managing items of local heritage has rested with local councils. This followed a direction by the then Minister, the Hon Bob Carr MP, that councils include protection for heritage items in local environmental plans. The principal means of listing heritage items is through heritage schedules included in these plans.
The new amendments to the Heritage Act recognise this central role of local government. They have also clarified the two-tiered heritage system in NSW, where local items are listed and managed by local councils and State significant items are the responsibility of the Heritage Council.
State Heritage Register
As part of the amendments to the Heritage Act, a State Heritage Register of State significant items has been established. All items previously subject to permanent conservation orders were transferred to the Register on 2 April 1999. A similar number of items owned by State government agencies has also been transferred under the transitional provisions of the Heritage Act amendments.
Items added to the State Heritage Register
Ninety-nine items were added to the State Heritage Register during the year. Sixty-five of these (and part of one other) were items in the ownership of State Government agencies. A further thirteen were Commonwealth-owned items subject to sale.
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A breakdown of the items is as follows:
State Government-owned items
Approximately 80 items were submitted for listing by their owning agencies as part of their heritage responsibilities under section 170 of the Heritage Act. Seventy-four items belonging to government agencies were listed on the State Heritage Register during the year, including:
Department of Agriculture
Grantham Poultry Research Station, Seven Hills Listing gazetted 7 April 2000 The former Grantham Poultry Research Station has historic and social significance as the focus of the poultry industry in New South Wales for over 70 years. Operating as an experimental farm under the NSW Government the property strongly reflects government support and initiative to further the efficiency and productivity of the industry.
Grantham is one of the largest open spaces in the area and contains a number of significant mature trees comprising a remnant tract of the Cumberland woodland plain. The two farm residences, Melrose House and Drumtochty, and the old feed shed have aesthetic significance as good examples of rural structures that remain attached to their original farm property, providing an important link to the early history of the area.
Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust
Centennial Park, Moore Park and Queens Park, Centennial Park Listing gazetted 27 March 2000 Centennial Park is a symbol of the development of the nation. The parklands represent a tangible link with the colonial foundations of modern Australia. The parklands have been the site of significant national events, especially celebrations for the Federation of Australian states in 1901.
The Centennial Parklands are a symbol of the development of Sydney. They represent success in the early settlers' struggle for survival. The original swamps became Sydney's second source of water (via Busby's Bore) and the wider area the Macquarie Common (Sydney's second common) with grazing rights and recreational uses. The Parklands are the repository of important cultural heritage for the city of Sydney, including landscape heritage - the grand drives, statuary and formal gardens - and the built heritage of monuments, gateways and houses. The Parklands comprise a wide, green and open space in the heart of Sydney's most dense metropolitan area.
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Centennial Park is of high cultural significance as a designed environment which serves as a people's park, commemorates the centenary of the founding of Australia and provides a venue for significant historic and social events. It contains items of historic, scientific and aesthetic significance. The elements that contribute to its Victorian park character are still largely intact. As a consciously designed people's park, its size and scale is unique to Australia
Historic Houses Trust
First Government House site, 41 Bridge Street, Sydney Listing gazetted 10 December 1999 First Government House was the first permanent centre of colonial administration in Australia. It was the home and offices of the Governors of New South Wales and the official, social and administrative centre of the colony from 1788-1845.
The site is associated with numerous events of political, cultural and social significance to the colony's development. Its use as both home and seat of authority and its siting and subsequent development determined to a large extent the pattern of growth of Sydney. This entails both the physical pattern of the streets and its cultural pattern of political, official, recreational, residential and mercantile quarters.
The site of the building contains the only built fabric remains from 1788 known to survive in Sydney. These remains provide evidence of Australia's major phases of history, architecture and building technology, as well as the administration of the colony of New South Wales.
First Government House has a unique historical significance because of the many historic figures, both European and Aboriginal, who are associated with the building. It also has great scientific significance which is proven in its potential to answer research questions in these and other fields. The site is of great symbolic importance to the Australian people. It is our most tangible link to the foundation of non-Aboriginal settlement in this country.
Susannah Place, The Rocks Listing gazetted 10 December 1999 In December 1836 the Susannah Place site was granted to James Byrne for a yearly rent of ten shillings until 1849, and thenceforth five shillings on the condition that he 'erect a permanent dwelling-house, store or other suitable building on the land' with proper drainage to the nearest common drain or sewer.
In January 1978 the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority (SCRA) received a quote to demolish Susannah Place. It was one of a group of buildings that were perceived to be at the end of their 'economic lives and standing on sites required for redevelopment.' In 1986 the Historic Houses Trust of NSW became interested in Susannah Place and the NSW Premier, Neville Wran, announced that the Trust should acquire the property as a matter of 'critical significance to the State's heritage'. Negotiations began to lease the property as the freehold could not be transferred.
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Susannah Place's importance lies primarily in its survival and the continuity of its occupation since 1844 as a row of working class houses. It is an artefact of history that provides evidence of families' lives, tastes and circumstances over the past 155 years.
It is a rare example of a simple working class terrace that has undergone few alterations despite major changes to the social infrastructure of the area.
Sydney Water Corporation
Sixty-one items were listed, including major dams, local reservoirs, water and sewage pumping stations, aqueducts and canals. Sydney's water supply and sewage system, constructed in the 19th and early 20th centuries, is a masterpiece of engineering. The early works in particular were exceptional for the time.
Waterways Authority
Ten items belonging to the Marine Ministerial Holding Corporation (under the management of the Waterways Authority) were approved for listing under the transitional provisions of the Act during the year. The Waterways Authority also controls ownership of part of the area of the Dawn Fraser Pool at Balmain, listed below.
Commonwealth Government-owned items
These items were submitted for listing by their owning agencies as part of a protocol between certain Commonwealth agencies and the Heritage Council that heritage items being sold out of Commonwealth ownership should be protected under state heritage legislation prior to their sale. Items belonging to the following agencies were listed on the State Heritage Register during the year:
Australia Post Listing gazetted 17 December 1999 The Post office buildings at Albury, Armidale, Bourke, Casino, Glen Innes, Inverell, Maitland, Millers Point, Mudgee, Randwick, Richmond and Tenterfield are major civic buildings in their localities and have state-wide significance in the development of communications and settlement in New South Wales.
Department of Defence
Bomera and Tarana, Potts Point Listing gazetted 23 June 2000 These 19th century mansions have been used as headquarters for the Royal Australian Navy since World War II. They still retain evidence of their rich and lavish interiors. They are associated with leading 19th century Sydney families and are rare survivors of their type in this locality. Since their listing on the State Heritage Register they have been sold privately.
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Items in other ownerships
Chinese Market Gardens, Bunnerong Road, La Perouse Listing gazetted 13 August 1999 The market gardens are of historical, agricultural and social significance to NSW and to the Sydney metropolitan area in particular. The place has been used as market gardens for more than 150 years, firstly by Europeans and then by Chinese. The area has evolved from a landscape occupied and modified by the Aboriginal population, to one adapted to the settlement and food production needs of the European colony.
The area also has great social significance for its association with the Chinese immigrants who have been predominant in the market gardens of this area for about 100 years. In terms of aesthetic significance, the area has some scenic value, giving it a somewhat rural character.
This listing is the first under the Heritage Office’s ethnic communities consultation program, one objective of which is to increase the number of listings reflecting the diversity of the state’s cultural heritage. In particular, targeted programs with the Chinese and Italo- Australian communities have resulted in several nominations.
Babworth House, 103 Darling Point Road, Darling Point Listing gazetted 13 August 1999 Babworth House is one of the largest, finest and most intact examples of an early 20th century grand house in Australia. It is of national significance both historically and aesthetically. Babworth House is an excellent and rare example of the Federation Arts and Crafts style in grand domestic architecture in Australia.
Babworth's garden is an integral part of the design for the whole estate and, although the estate is reduced in size, the gardens and grounds provide a substantially intact and highly appropriate setting to the grand mansion. The built garden elements such as stairs, balustrades, grottoes and faux-rockwork amplify the scale of the mansion and demonstrate high technical accomplishment by using the same high standard of construction as the house.
Epping Forest, Mississippi Crescent, Kearns Listing gazetted 13 August 1999 Epping Forest is significant as a surviving example of an early colonial farm complex on the Cumberland Plain. It retains the layout and fabric of the main house and associated outbuildings which are sited upon a small hill and date from the 1820s. The integrity of the place has been maintained by the survival of the old Colonial Georgian style brick house, the slab and log outbuildings, and the retention of a sufficient curtilage of open country around the complex to enable its strategic siting and historical rural uses to still be appreciated and understood.
The main house and outbuildings demonstrate in their layers of additional fabric and changing technology the ongoing functioning of the place as both a farm and residence. The complex
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of buildings and its curtilage is a rare surviving example of a colonial property in a late 20th century suburb.
Victoria Theatre (former), 8-10 Perkins Street, Newcastle Listing gazetted 27 August 1999 The Victoria Theatre is the oldest theatre building still standing in New South Wales. It provides evidence that no other building can offer of 110 years of silent pictures, vaudeville and early legitimate theatre.
It is virtually intact, except for alterations to the vestibule and back stalls. The future demolition of false shop walls may reveal that even these areas remain unaltered. The theatre has an 1891 facade, an auditorium that includes elements from both 1891 and 1921, and extensive backstage facilities. It is an important part of Newcastle’s heritage.
Yiu Ming Temple, 16-22 Retreat Street, Alexandria Listing gazetted 24 September 1999 The temple is of historical, architectural, religious and social significance to a section of Sydney’s Chinese community. The Yiu Ming is one of the oldest and largest Chinese Societies. For approximately 130 years, the temple and its community have provided practical assistance and spiritual support for community members seeking to establish themselves in Australia.
Architecturally, the building is significant for its blending of traditional design, local materials and Federation detailing. The building has not been significantly modified since construction. The most significant changes were made following recent fire damage, but these replicated its original form and materials as much as possible. The elaborate fittings of the temple provide evidence of community commitment to the temple and also demonstrate the skill of Chinese artisans at the beginning of the 20th century.
As many village temples in China have been demolished, this fine, intact example is considered to be of both State and international significance.
Christ Church, King Street, Bungonia Listing gazetted 1 October 1999 Christ Church, Bungonia, was nominated for listing by its parish and is an appealing and largely intact example of Gothic church architecture as adapted to rural Australia in the mid- late Victorian period. With its parsonage, glebe and cemetery, it provides one of the few largely intact groups of linked heritage places that can be associated with the southward expansion of the Church of England beyond Sydney after 1820. The cultural landscape, of which the church and its grounds are an integral part, retains the appearance of a 19th century rural village.
The present church was opened in 1878 and consecrated in 1893. It is the latest of three Colonial period churches to occupy the site and partially overlies the archaeological remains of what is arguably the first (1836) stone church to be built in the Southern highlands. The
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church has strong links with virtually all early colonial properties in the Southern Highlands and with many important people from that era.
Broughton House, 43a Thomas Street, Parramatta Listing gazetted 1 October 1999 Broughton House is a notable example of a Victorian Regency style house that reflects the social and economic status of the wealthy free settlers who played an essential part in the establishment of New South Wales. It has strong associations with the Marsden family. It also has associations with educational, religious, scientific and literary training through William Woolls School and Kings School. It is the sole remaining home of a series of quality residences that faced south over the Parramatta River, such as The Vineyard (Subiaco), Newlands (Athole), Pemberton Grange and Waddon Estate (Palmer Family).
Wing Hing Long Store, 10 Ruby Street, Tingha Listing gazetted 29 October 1999 The Wing Hing Long store occupies a central position on the main street of Tingha. Its structure, fabric, and archival and movable heritage collections provide a unique documentation of the continuous and significant contribution of Chinese-Australians, as well as the importance of general stores, to the history of retailing in regional New South Wales. It also provides significant insights into the rise and decline of the tin mining community in which the store is located.
Joadja kerosene oil shale mining and refinery site, Joadja Road, Joadja Listing gazetted 5 November 1999 Joadja is one of the most important 19th century industrial and archaeological mining relics in Australia, and certainly the most spectacular of the early shale mining sites in New South Wales. It is extremely rare in its level of preservation, which maintains the relationships between industrial and habitation sites with very little 20th century intrusion. Joadja demonstrates close links with Scotland through technology, managers, miners and refinery workers. Enough is still standing to allow industrial archaeologists to learn a great deal about early mining towns and about the technology of kerosene shale refining.
Amusu Theatre, 17 Derowie Street, Manildra Listing gazetted 26 November 1999 An important example of a small hall and purpose-built cinema in a rural town with a very small population, the Amusu has been continuously operated under the one ownership since its construction in 1936.
The cinema is a tangible link with the earliest days of the movie industry and its impact upon rural Australian communities throughout the 20th century. The building contains a collection of movie memorabilia, fixtures and fittings which allows an understanding of its social and cultural significance. The building and its contents are a rare educative and evocative resource.
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Yasmar, 185 Parramatta Road, Haberfield Listing gazetted 18 February 2000 The property is the remnant of an 1803 land grant whose boundaries define the current suburb of Haberfield. Built between 1856 and 1858, the house was designed by John Bibb, who took over the practice of famed colonial architect John Verge following his retirement. It was commissioned by Alexander Learmonth. The name “Yasmar” is the family name of his wife – Ramsay – spelt backwards.
The extensive grounds of the property were progressively sold off or acquired by the government over the years. The most dramatic subdivision occurred a hundred years ago when the property developer, Richard Stanton, created the suburb of Haberfield from land acquired from Yasmar and adjacent estates.
Yasmar survives as a rare example of a villa garden in the Gardenesque style that is still relatively intact. The garden is a rare example of the style close to the city and retains its connection with its original residence. The gateposts, gates and curved carriageway leading to the turning circle also survive in near original condition.
The garden includes many examples of significant vegetation. The olives may be derived from Macarthur's Nursery at Camden.
Yasmar is the only remaining villa house estate remaining on Parramatta Road, the oldest roadway in Australia. The house, stables and garden survive in layout and in relation to each other as originally intended. For these reasons the site is rare.
Old Bar Airfield, 0.5km off Old Bar Road, Old Bar Listing gazetted 25 February 2000 The Old Bar Airfield has national historic significance as a rare intact and representative example of a key ‘aerodrome’ from the earliest days of Australian aviation. It has direct and important links with the nation's major aviation pioneers.
The airfield was a vital component in the development of Australia's air mail and aerial passenger services.
The Old Bar airstrip contributes to our understanding of the cultural history of Australia's development of an aviation industry, including air mail, passenger services and associated joy flight and aerial pageantry activity. It has social significance for the aviation community throughout Australia and also for the local community.
The listing of the airfield was celebrated during a Heritage Pageant and Fly-In that took place in April 2000 as part of the local Heritage Week celebrations.
Properts Building, 69-77 King Street, Newtown Listing gazetted 10 March 2000 Formerly the Trocadero, the Properts Building is a rare example of a purpose-built roller skating rink of the late 1880s. At the time of its construction it was also reputed to be the
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largest and most elegant rink in Australia. The wrought iron roof trusses over the rink are very fine, elegant and early examples, typical of railway buildings of the time, and represent the development of iron and steel technology in the late 19th century. The operable roof over the clerestory is also of technological significance and extremely rare in Australia, possibly unique. The building is a rare Sydney example of a Victorian Flemish style commercial building with free style Gothic detailing.
Fairwater, 560 New South Head Road, Double Bay Listing gazetted 27 March 2000 This landmark Sydney harbour property is of rare historic, aesthetic, social and scientific significance, not only because it was designed by renowned architect, John Horbury Hunt, but because of its continuing association with the Fairfax family.
Fairwater was built in 1882, with additions during the Edwardian period. The property includes a former stable (c.1900s) and garage (1930), and is built on a large landscaped allotment fronting Port Jackson.
The Fairfax family ownership of Fairwater began in late 1900, with its lease to James Oswald Fairfax, grandson of The Sydney Morning Herald founder John Fairfax. The property was nominated for listing by Lady Fairfax.
Christ Church, churchyard and cemetery, Church Road, Moss Vale Listing gazetted 7 April 2000 Christ Church was constructed in 1845 and is the oldest church between Cobbitty and Canberra. It is associated with important figures such as John Verge, who designed the church, and Charles Throsby, surgeon, magistrate and later member of the Legislative Council, who was one of the first settlers in the area. It was dedicated and consecrated in 1845 by Bishop W. G. Broughton, Bishop of Australia.
The church provides evidence of the first designated township in the southern highlands by Governor Macquarie in 1821 and is a landmark feature of the area. It contains a unique interior collection of a Parsons Organ, church pews, pulpit and lectern, painted ceilings and stained glass windows. The cemetery is an important record of the history of the southern highlands and of the Throsby family.
Foreshore land and structures, 9 Pixie Avenue, Green Point Listing gazetted 9 June 2000 The jetty, boatshed, well and foreshore land which were owned and managed as an integral part of the property between 1891 and 1975 were not included in the original listing of Mulholland's Farm.
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Its significance as the most intact surviving farm on the Brisbane Water (from the farm sub- division era of the 1880s to 1945) derives from the fact that it retains the physical and visual evidence of the farm's association with the waterway.
Fenwick and Co. boat store, 2-8 Weston Street, Balmain Listing gazetted 9 June 2000 The site of the J. Fenwick & Co. Boat Store is significant because of its continuous association with the growth and development of maritime industries in Balmain from the earliest days of Balmain's subdivision. This is due to the formation and operation of Bell's Shipyard and the subsequent operations of J. Fenwick & Co.
The site has important links with the development of the port of Sydney because of its association with the use of tug boats as an integral part of shipping operations.
The stone store is a rare surviving built element of Balmain's former links with the maritime service industries of Sydney Harbour, and contributes to the cultural significance of the harbour. It physically demonstrates the role of Balmain in the working of Sydney Harbour until recent times.
Saraton Theatre, 95 Prince Street, Grafton Listing gazetted 9 June 2000 The Saraton Theatre building is highly significant because of its integrity and rarity as an example of a picture theatre built in a country city during the first half of the 20th century. It has been owned by the Notaras family for the 73 years of its existence, hence its unusual name, and is an example of Greek immigrant interest in theatre construction in country NSW.
The Saraton is one of the few country picture theatres built up to World War II that are still operating in recognisably original condition. Both its exterior 1920s style and interior late 1930s style of design provide a now rare insight into the major leisure activity of the period.
Collection of cricket memorabilia, St Jude Street, Bowral Listing gazetted 23 June 2000 The collection contains objects associated with Australian cricketing history, and in particular commemorates the cricketing career of Sir Donald Bradman AC, Australia's greatest cricketer. The social significance of the collection is demonstrated by the support it has received from the community, private and government sectors. It contains many rare and unique cricketing items and is a rich source of research material.
Bradman Oval, Glebe Street, Bowral Listing gazetted 23 June 2000 Bradman Oval is historically significant through its association with Sir Donald Bradman's cricketing activities. This association has been reinforced by the recent construction of the
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Bradman Museum and the name change of the site to Bradman Oval. It provides a tangible link to Sir Donald Bradman's formative years.
As the former Glebe Park, the oval is representative of country town parks of the turn of the century, which were characterised by a simple planting layout of trees and a few shrubs. It reflects a phase in the development of Bowral when attention was turning to the garden environment. Aesthetically, the park's simple layout is further enhanced by the combination of mature eucalyptus and deciduous trees which enhance the surroundings.
Dawn Fraser Swimming Pool, Glassop Street, Balmain Listing gazetted 23 June 2000 The pool is a complete swimming complex from the turn of the century. It is an excellent example of pool architecture no longer practiced and a well known Sydney landmark set in an attractive harbourside location. It is representative of the development of harbourside recreational and social facilities and is associated with prominent swimming identities and world champions, particularly Dawn Fraser. It provides evidence of the major popularity of swimming as a competitive and recreational sport in Australia.
Interim Heritage Orders
Under the 1999 amendments to the Heritage Act the temporary listing of an item for a period of twelve months changed its name from Interim Conservation Order to Interim Heritage Order. These orders protect an item while further determination of its heritage significance is made.
In some cases, items of value to a local community are protected at the request of local councils while a heritage Local Environmental Plan is prepared. In future, councils will have the power to make Interim Heritage Orders in these cases. Items assessed to be of State significance will progress to listing on the State Heritage Register.
The following 18 Interim Heritage Orders were made during the year. Descriptions have been supplied by the nominator and may not necessarily reflect the final assessment of the heritage significance of the item.
Former St Mary's Convent, Ripon Street, Young IHO gazetted 2 July 1999 This building contributes to the historic, ecclesiastical and urban nature of the Carrington park precinct of the town. Only two other Presentation Sisters' Convents have been given statutory listing in NSW.
Oakdene, 7 Pine Street, Manly IHO gazetted 16 July 1999 This Federation house was assessed to be of local heritage significance by Manly Council. The council requested the order in response to a development application for its demolition
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so that it would have time to add the building to its local environmental plan. The Heritage Council subsequently approved its conversion from flats to backpacker accommodation.
Kenilworth, 260 Johnston Street, Annandale IHO gazetted 27 August 1999 The property was constructed in 1886-9 and is a substantial four-storey Gothic/Romanesque villa. It is part of a group known as the Witches Houses, subject to a section 130 order made in 1980. The Heritage Office received a notice proposing harm for the property in accordance with section 132 of the old Heritage Act. The owner proposed to demolish the rear of the house and construct seven residential units to fund the conservation of the building.
As the proposed works were considered to be detrimental to the heritage significance of the building and the Order would lapse 40 days after receipt of the notice, an interim heritage order was gazetted to provide time to negotiate a more appropriate development.
New England Brass and Iron Lace Foundry, 6 East Street, Uralla IHO gazetted 8 October 1999 Australia's oldest operating foundry in original condition, including associated industrial objects and movable contents.
North West County Council Building, 129 Otho Street, Inverell IHO gazetted 5 November 1999 The North West County Council building has regional historic and social significance for the town of Inverell and the North West region as an integral part of the community infrastructure. It represents the cooperative work of a number of local councils (11 initially) in a joint assessment of the development potential of the region and a commitment to self sufficiency for their communities. The building demonstrates the confidence of rural communities in post-war Australia, and the community vision of those in public office.
The building has architectural significance as an early example of the work of local architect, Colin Madigan, who went on to become a nationally and internationally celebrated Australian architect. A building of this scale and architectural calibre is rare in country towns, as are buildings erected for semi-government instrumentalities during the 1950s.
Houses, 15, 17 & 57 Cremorne Road, Cremorne Point IHOs gazetted 12 November 1999 The Cremorne Point conservation area contains a continuous foreshore reserve that was subject to a celebrated legal battle at the time of subdivision around the turn of the century. The most intact area of reserve and housing is the eastern side of Cremorne Point. The landscape setting and the picturesque Edwardian housing combine to form an area with special aesthetic appeal.
The houses at 15, 17 and 57 Cremorne contribute to the general heritage qualities of the area, but are not individually listed items in the North Sydney local environmental plan.
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Orders were requested to prevent their demolition and consolidation into a development site so that the council would have time to prepare a specific local environmental plan.
Cottages, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39 Morehead Street, Redfern IHO gazetted 12 November 1999 The timber ridge-line houses of Morehead Street (c.1875 – 1880) are rare surviving examples of modest, timber workers cottages in the inner city area. They are a distinct part of the proposed Cooper Street Conservation Area included in the Draft South Sydney local environmental plan. Nos. 29 – 35 & 39 are also listed individually in the draft LEP.
Protective orders were sought in response to a development application for their demolition to give South Sydney City Council time to have the LEP gazetted.
Fifield House, Fifield Lane, Yass IHO gazetted 7 December 1999 The property is significant as an intact gentleman's residence in Yass and for its associations with leading Yass identities and for its extended ownership by two families. It is a fine example of Colonial Georgian architectural style of the mid 19th century. The design represented the height of 1850s fashion, and later early 20th century fashion following refurbishment at that time.
The property is associated with Dr Allan Campbell, who was prominent as a town doctor and pastoralist, and an active member within town organisations. It contains evidence of early decorative techniques and fashions, evidence of an intact mid-Victorian garden layout and archaeological evidence of early roads and pre-subdivision history.
Hilderlea, 7 The Crescent, Manly IHO gazetted 7 December 1999 Hilderlea is a rare and remarkable early 20th century high-rise apartment building in the inter-war Chicago style which stands as a landmark overlooking Manly Cove.
Highbury, 165 High Street, Kirribilli IHO gazetted 7 December 1999 Highbury has considerable historical significance as it was the demonstration home for the Wunderlich Company. Wunderlich has earned a place in the Australian psyche due to the prolific use of its products in residential and commercial buildings during the 20th century. The building displays an intact range of these products.
Highbury has aesthetic significance for the high quality of the finishes, the range of ceiling patterns, and various features attributed to the Wunderlich Company, such as the wallpapers, door handles, and fireplaces. It makes a strong contribution to the streetscape due to the intact character of the cottage, and is set amongst a group of similar buildings.
House, 20 Martin Road, Centennial Park IHO gazetted 18 February 2000
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The house was occupied by leading Australian author Patrick White from 1964 until his death and was the location of the writing of his later works.
Drummond Lea, 14 Clifton Street, Balmain IHO gazetted 25 February 2000 This property exhibits collective historical, aesthetic and social significance as a rare and intact turn of the century waterfront residential property. It represents a lifestyle of living and working in inner Sydney up to the turn of the century and is significant for its association with Sir James Banks and his family.
The core of the building is an 1845 house known as Vernon Cottage. This single- storey house with an attic upper storey was substantially altered by the addition of an upper floor in 1882, and was subsequently known as Drummond Lea. The property also includes a c.1913 Federation Arts and Crafts boatshed, a summerhouse or store and a separate dwelling. It sits in an intact terraced garden which includes a native fig tree, a central stair from the waterfront, stone walls and also sandstone cuttings for siting the house. It contains evidence of waterfront structures and an intact slipway.
Cooerwull Presbyterian Church (former), Great Western Highway, Bowenfels IHO gazetted 3 March 2000 The single-storey stone Georgian revival building was built by a local Scots Presbyterian grazier in the 1870s as a school for the children of railway construction workers who lived in a permanent camp on his estate. It became a church and Sunday school in 1906 and was presented to the Presbyterian Church in 1922.
The building is aesthetically significant in the context of the railway group nearby as one of the few fine stone buildings in Lithgow.
The Yellow House, 57-59 Macleay Street, Potts Point IHO gazetted 12 May 2000 The Yellow House was a centre of great importance in the artistic and cultural history of Sydney in the late 1960s and early 1970s. A co-operative of artists ran the Yellow House from 1969 until 1972, including George Gittoes, Brett Whiteley, Martin Sharp and others. Many of the artists involved are now of national standing. Apart from the association with the artists, significance is also claimed for the dimensions, layout and fabric of the rooms within the Yellow House that formed an integral part of the exhibitions, installations and works produced and shown in the place.
Melocco Brothers Factory (former), 1 Booth Street, Annandale IHO gazetted 26 May 2000 The building demonstrates the work of the Melocco family who used the site for masonry trades and the early development of concrete technology.
Orders under section 136 of the Heritage Act
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The following temporary emergency order under section 136 of the Heritage Act was made during the year:
Commercial buildings, 149, 151 & 153 Prince Street, Grafton Order made on 25 March 2000 The order was invoked to prevent further demolition of the buildings which were the oldest remaining commercial buildings in Grafton. Following a site visit and discussions with the owners and the Grafton City Council, the Heritage Council decided not to recommend further protection after the expiry of the order owing to the state of deterioration of the buildings and the economically unsustainable cost of major conservation work.
Full lists of all additions to the State Heritage Register are at Appendix A. The complete State Heritage Register is available on the Internet at www.heritage.nsw.gov.au.
Conservation Management Plans
One of the important functions of the Heritage Council’s State Heritage Register Committee is to:
· review conservation management plans; · endorse plans that meet the committee’s standards; and · develop guidelines and policies regarding conservation management plans.
During the reporting year 48 plans were reviewed by the committee. Seventy-five percent of these documents were prepared for heritage items owned by government agencies. Twenty-nine were formally endorsed in a final or conditional form. Eight of these were for privately-owned items:
· Tahlee House, Port Stephens · Burns Philp Building, Bridge Street, Sydney · Aboriginal Day of Mourning Site, 150-152 Elizabeth Street, Sydney · Studley Park House, Camden · Collits Inn, near Hartley · Denmark Hotel, Bulli · St. Davids Uniting Church, Haberfield · the former Wangi Power Station, Lake Macquarie.
Twenty-one were for publicly-owned items:
· Walsh Bay Heritage Technology · Craigmoor, Hill End · North Parramatta Government Sites · North Parramatta Government Sites Landscape · Belgenny Farm, near Camden
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· 298 Queen Street, Campbelltown · Queen Victoria Nursing Home, Wentworth Falls · Mt Wood homestead complex, Sturt National Park · Bathurst TAFE College · Bella Vista Farm, near Seven Hills · Sheas Creek Woolsheds, Alexandria · Throsby Park Historic Site, near Moss Vale · Gladesville Drill Hall Heritage Assessment · Ashfield Drill Hall · Colonial Magazine; Goat Island · Concord Repatriation Hospital · Wiseman’s Ferry Historic Site · Quarantine Station, North Head · Hillview, Sutton Forest · Kenmore Hospital, Goulburn · Female Orphan School, Rydalmere. · The remaining 19 plans were returned to their authors for modification.
The number of endorsements of plans for both private and public items doubled over the previous year, while the overall number of plans reviewed fell slightly.
The committee is developing a regulation to provide a statutory basis to the endorsement process, and to provide a clear linkage to the exemption provisions of section 57 of the Heritage Act.
Heritage Office staff have sat on steering committees for conservation management plans for Hartley Historic Site and the Quarantine Station at North Head.
CONSERVATION OF ITEMS OF STATE SIGNIFICANCE
Sixty-eight applications under the Integrated Development Approvals system were processed during the year, compared with 35 the previous year, an increase of 94%. The Heritage Council or the Heritage Council Approvals Committee assessed 31 of these applications during the year. Thirty-seven were approved under delegation.
The processing of applications for works under section 60 of the Heritage Act has also increased substantially, from 82 last year to 143 in 1999/2000. The Heritage Council or the Heritage Council Approvals Committee assessed 20 of these applications during the year. One hundred and twenty-two were approved under delegation and one was refused.
Concord Hospital The group of multi-storey hospital buildings at Concord Rehabilitation General Hospital was designed by the prominent hospital architects, Stephenson and Turner, in the inter-war Functionalist style and completed in 1942.
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The Heritage Council considered an application by Central Sydney Area Health Service to adapt and add to the multi block building to accommodate current health care requirements. The application was associated with a masterplan and a conservation management plan.
After extensive consultation with representatives of the Health Department, their architects and conservation consultants, design issues of the proposed development were resolved. A revised adaptive reuse scheme was accepted specifying detailing and design amendments .The issue of listing appropriate Concord Hospital buildings on the State Heritage Register was also considered.
Kenilworth, 260 Johnson Street, Annandale Kenilworth was built in 1886 - 89 by John Young, builder, developer, architect and mayor of Sydney. It is a substantial four-storey Victorian Gothic/Romanesque villa and forms part of a group of houses known as “ The Witches’ Houses”. Kenilworth was the residence of Sir Henry Parkes, father of Federation, in the last years of his life until his death in 1896. The fabric of the building is an early example of the experimental use of reinforced concrete construction. In 1999, The Heritage Council placed an Interim Heritage Order on the house and grounds.
The Heritage Council received an Integrated Development Application for the conservation of Kenilworth, and for medium density development on the site to fund the conservation of the house. The Heritage Council considered a previous development application unsympathetic to the heritage significance of the property in 1999.
The Heritage Council granted general terms of approval, and resolved some revisions to the application. Kenilworth was referred to the State Heritage Register Committee to consider its listing on the State Heritage Register.
Lithgow Blast Furnace & State Mine Heritage Park The Heritage Council has been represented on the steering committee for the Blast Furnace and State Mine projects, funded under the Federation Fund. Approval was given for structural conservation works to the Davy Engine House, the most prominent landmark at the blast furnace site, and an archaeological investigation was approved for the site of the former Eskbank Locomotive Depot. The Heritage Council has a continued interest in seeing this project through to its successful completion, in partnership with Lithgow City Council.
Lower Prospect Canal The Heritage Council was involved in the preparation of a plan of management for the Lower Prospect Canal which became redundant as a water supply asset in 1996. The plan was finalised and adopted during the year. It calls for the conversion of the canal to a cycleway, and the gazettal of the former canal reserve as a linear park stretching for seven kilometres through Holroyd local government area.
The Heritage Council has supported this innovative adaptive reuse, which will see the canal conserved and interpreted. Discussions are continuing between the Heritage Council,
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Holroyd Council, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Department of Public Works and Services to resolve the design details of the project. Construction is due to commence in late 2000.
Macquarie Field House estate, Glenfield Macquarie Field House estate is listed on the State Heritage Register and on Campbelltown City Council’s Local Environmental Plan 1991 as a significant heritage item demonstrating evidence of the expansion of colonial surveying, settlement, agriculture and subsequent development to Sydney’s south west and beyond. It is of exceptional value as a relatively intact remnant colonial farm estate on the Cumberland Plain, including a substantial mid-19th century homestead, prominently sited with expansive views, important remnant plantings, farm estate layout and archaeological features.
In November 1999 Campbelltown City Council, in concurrence with advice from the Heritage Council, refused a development application for a 168 lot community title residential subdivision and golf practise course on an area of land adjacent to and overlapping the State Heritage Register curtilage of Macquarie Field House. This proposal affected much of the open space remaining of the former farm estate.
Key concerns raised by the Heritage Council were the lack of sufficient emphasis given to defining and conserving an appropriate curtilage and setting for the former farm estate, and the erosion of meaningful rural curtilage and setting around the main farmhouse, its hilltop plantings and entrance driveway. It was considered that the development would diminish both the future viability of the remnant property and its ability to be interpreted and understood as a former farm estate.
The developer appealed against a deemed refusal of the application, and the matter was heard before the Land & Environment Court in February 2000. The Heritage Office supported Campbelltown City Council in the court case and gave evidence that the applicant’s statement of environmental effects was inadequate in addressing the significance of the historic curtilage and setting.
The Court dismissed the appeal in May 2000 and concluded that the development would severely impact on the rural setting of the farm, and that the integrity of the estate is in such a precarious position that any development which is inconsistent with its conservation would be likely to destroy its heritage significance. The judgement noted that the remaining undeveloped land surrounding the group is central to its heritage value, and that the land’s regional role as open space and a break in urban development would be eroded by the proposal.
Old Bar Airfield, Taree The Old Bar Airfield has national historic significance as a key aerodrome from the earliest days of Australian aviation which has direct and important links with the nation's major aviation pioneers: Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith, Captain C.T.P. Ulm, Jean Batten and Nancy Bird Walton.
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Greater Taree Council had originally proposed to close the airfield and convert it for use as a sports field, but has now decided to re-open it for air traffic. The Heritage Council rejected a proposal to construct a skateboard facility at one end of the runway, as this would have had a detrimental effect on the heritage significance of the place.
Palisade Hotel, Miller’s Point, Sydney The Palisade Hotel is a landmark building of State significance listed on the State Heritage Register, the Register of the National Estate, the Central Sydney LEP 1992 and the National Trust Register. It is within the Miller’s Point Conservation Area. The Heritage Council supports in principle the refurbishment of the Palisade Hotel.
The Heritage Council initially rejected an earlier proposal for development due to its adverse impact on the building and the Miller’s Point conservation area, and requested modifications to the proposal. In April 2000 the applicant prepared a revised pre-development submission.
The Heritage Council resolved that, although the revised proposal had met some Heritage Council concerns, there were still some outstanding issues. In particular, a revised statement of significance was required. The applicant considers the resolutions of the Heritage Council reasonable and a new revision of the proposal is now underway.
Reussdale, 156-160 Bridge Road, Glebe The site contains three buildings:
· Reussdale - a 19th century two-storey villa, listed on the State Heritage Register; · Abbey Restaurant - a former Blacket church relocated in Glebe in the 1920s; and · Hamilton Cottage - a single-storey residence, in poor condition.
A permanent conservation order was placed on Reussdale in 1985. It is now included on the State Heritage Register.
The then Minister for Planning, keen to ensure the conservation of Reussdale, granted development approval under section 77 of the Heritage Act on 13 September 1993. The development application (DA) was subject to an extensive range of conditions mainly to do with the operation of the reception centre and protecting the amenity of the residential area, and included the conservation of Reussdale.
In 1996 the applicants indicated their intention to amend the design of the original DA. Concerned by the delay in undertaking the conservation of Reussdale, the Heritage Council established a sub-committee to advise the applicant on preparing an amended development proposal.
During negotiations the applicants proposed to also pursue a residential development. In December 1998, after protracted discussions, the Heritage Council approved applications
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for the amended function centre and a residential development. The applicants submitted a development application for each proposal to Leichhardt Council. Following discussions with Council’s planners, however, the proposals were withdrawn prior to Council’s determination.
The applicants then decided to pursue minor amendments to the previously approved (1993) development application. A section 60 application is to be considered by the Heritage Council next year.
The Heritage Council remains concerned that this State Heritage Register item is still awaiting conservation.
St Andrew’s Anglican Cathedral, Sydney St Andrew’s Cathedral is one of the finest Gothic Revival church buildings in NSW and is the pre-eminent church building within the Sydney Anglican Diocese. It was designed by James Hume and Bishop Broughton and built in 1837–1868.
Heritage Council advice was sought by the applicant for the external treatment of the south side of the Cathedral and the Chapter House. The proposal is the final stage of the major repair and reworking of the Cathedral and provides performance facilities and other uses to revitalise its important social role within the City of Sydney. Works to the Cathedral have been supported by $2M State and $5M Commonwealth funding.
These works comprise some alterations to the external arrangement and landscaping to enable the Chapter House to fulfil a more public role and to provide a shop and café. The proposal provides the opportunity to reassert the relationship of the Cathedral buildings to the Town Hall, the street and the public spaces that surround them.
St John’s Centre of Ministry, Morpeth St John’s Centre of Ministry is a highly significant complex on the outskirts of Morpeth, one of the State’s most intact historic towns in a picturesque setting on the banks of the Hunter River. The property is significant for its historical associations with the Anglican Church since 1849 and it was used as the Bishop’s residence until 1912.
A permanent conservation order was placed on the property in 1985, and it is now listed on the State Heritage Register. It is also listed as an item of State significance on the Maitland LEP. Considerable financial assistance from the Heritage Assistance Program since 1980 has enabled substantial conservation works to the historic buildings to be carried out.
In the mid 1990s the Centre commenced the preparation of a conservation management plan and master plan for the site. The master plan proposed construction of a new road and pathway system, including relocation of the main vehicle entry from its present location, expansion of the theological college, and the addition of a conference centre/retreat, aged housing and a motel complex. A development application for stage 1 of the master plan proposals was submitted to Maitland Council in July 1998 and referred to the Heritage Council.
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In August 1999 the Heritage Council granted general terms of approval to a modified application subject to a number of conditions and provided comment on the master plan to assist in its development. Maitland Council subsequently granted conditional approval to stage 1.
School of Arts, 275 Pitt Street, Sydney The School of Arts building is an amalgam of two 19th century buildings combined behind a grand Italianate facade to the design of John Bibb. It is an important survivor of 19th century Sydney. It demonstrates Bibb's skills as a late Regency/early Victorian designer. The interior reveals fashionable taste and detail, especially plasterwork, stencilling and skylights. The School of Arts was an important educational and social centre for Sydney's intelligentsia in the 19th century, and the building’s character & spaces still clearly demonstrate aspects of an earlier way of life.
Terms of approval for an integrated development application to use the building as a five star restaurant, bar and function centre were issued by the Heritage Council in May 1999.
The Emanuel School, Stanley Street, Randwick The site includes an 1863 Blacket villa and 20th century chapel and novitiate buildings. The buildings are set in a well-established landscape with mature trees.
The school is planning a major building program to upgrade the facilities of the school. An integrated development application for extensions was referred by Randwick Council to the Heritage Council.
The Heritage Council considered that the proposed buildings would have a detrimental impact on the heritage significance of the site. A sub-committee was formed to meet with the applicants and their consultants to develop a more appropriate development for the site. The agreed solution took into consideration both the needs of the school and also the heritage significance of the site, and included the retention of two large trees planted in the 1930s. The Heritage Council resolved to provide general terms of approval for the new proposal to Randwick Council.
Walsh Bay The Heritage Council has continued its involvement with the Walsh Bay re-development through the Walsh Bay Sub-committee and the Approvals Committee. It has approved applications for the construction and fitout works for Pier 8/9 as commercial offices, new infrastructure throughout the precinct, new terrace houses along Pottinger St and the adaptive reuse of Bond Stores 5 to 7 along Hickson Road. The Heritage Council Sub- committee has provided advice on the project on a regular basis on issues of adaptive reuse, streetscape and urban design and conservation matters.
A major discovery of 1820s domestic archaeological remains at the Bond Store 4 East site has resulted in a redesign of the residential building approved for the site to allow the remains to be incorporated, conserved and interpreted for the public.
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The Heritage Council endorsed an interpretation plan for the Walsh Bay precinct in early 2000, and has required individual interpretation strategies to be prepared for the different areas of the precinct. Discussions have continued in relation to an interpretation centre for Walsh Bay, as well as the adaptive re-use of Pier 2/3, which is being conserved and returned to the government for cultural purposes.
Western Concourse, Sydney Central Railway Station The western concourse of Sydney Central Railway Station was built in 1906, and is an important example of a Federation period urban space that has not changed significantly since that time. It is part of the overall curtilage of the Sydney Central Railway Station Group, which is listed on the State Heritage Register. A development application to upgrade the western concourse precinct was referred to the Heritage Council by the City of Sydney Council.
As part of the general conservation works for Central Railway Station, it was proposed to upgrade the pedestrian and car park on the western concourse area. It is proposed to increase pedestrian areas and re-vitalize the garden areas. The needs of State Rail and its customers and heritage significance were considered as part of the final proposal.
The Heritage Council generally supported the application with the modification of some minor details of the new lighting. This recommendation was forwarded to the City of Sydney Council.
Historical Archaeology
Ninety-one permits for archaeological investigations under section 140 of the Heritage Act were issued during the year. This is a slight increase from the 85 permits issued last year.
Major Archaeological Investigations
Cadia Cemetery The former miners’ cemetery at Cadia was approved for exhumation by the Heritage Council in 1998 as a part of the expansion of mining operations at the Cadia Hill Gold Mine. An extensive program of archaeological works was undertaken at the cemetery site to exhume, record and relocate the skeletal remains of deceased miners.
A community consultation program was undertaken before, during and after the archaeological works program. This succeeded in locating living relatives of many of the miners buried in the cemetery. The archaeological excavations and analysis was completed in late 1999. In early 2000 the Heritage Council approved a strategy and design for re- internment. The skeletal remains have now been re-interred on a site overlooking the current mining operations. Interpretive material about the history and future of the Cadia Mine has been erected at the site.
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Orange Court House In 1998 the Heritage Council approved a major extension to the Orange Court House, a State significant public building designed by Colonial Architect, James Barnet, in the 1880s. Prior to works commencing, the archaeological remains of the 1850s police lockup and 1860s Dawson courthouse were discovered to the rear of the existing building. The Heritage Council negotiated for the retention in situ of a portion of the archaeological remains of the earliest period of the site.
The Attorney-General’s Department agreed to redesign the basement of the courthouse extension to allow the remains of the police lockup and cells to be retained beneath the new building, with a portion visible and interpreted within the new lobby.
This project has had the added benefit of raising the profile of archaeology and heritage generally within Orange. Orange City Council has embarked on a program of conserving and promoting a number of additional archaeological sites relating to the early history of the area, including the Chinaman’s Bend site and the Templar’s Mill site, which was the birthplace of A. B. ‘Banjo’ Paterson.
Strategic Projects
The Historical Archaeology Review Several major projects in recent years highlighted some policy and practice problems regarding the way historical archaeological sites are dealt with within the planning process. The Heritage Council requested the Heritage Office archaeologists to undertake a review.
The review was undertaken over most of 1999. The subsequent report looks in detail at practices, legislation, policies and guidelines and suggests areas for reform. The aim is to improve archaeological outcomes, increase the public benefits of archaeological practice and create certainty in the development process. The review report, which was prepared in consultation with the Archaeology Advisory Panel and endorsed by the Heritage Council, provides the strategic direction for historical archaeology policy and process for the future.
The outcomes of the review are consistent with the creation of the archaeology exceptions under section 139 (4) of the Heritage Act. The commissioning of the Parramatta Historical Archaeological Landscape Management Study is also consistent with the directions of the review.
The Archaeology Exceptions The 1998 amendments to the Heritage Act gave the Heritage Council the power to create exceptions from the relics provisions of the Heritage Act, similar to the power to create exemptions under section 57 (2) of the Act with respect to sites on the State Heritage Register. These exceptions allow the Council to exclude certain types of relics, certain classes of activity and/or certain parcels of land from the relics provisions of the Act. The first practical exceptions were gazetted in February 2000. Two sets of exceptions were created:
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· one specific to Sydney Water and its activities, based on negotiations which had already been underway at the time the Act was amended; and
· a set of general exceptions, which apply to all land in NSW.
The general exceptions are designed to:
· clarify the situations in which an excavation permit is not required from the Heritage Council; and
· except certain activities which are unlikely to impact upon historical archaeological remains, but which previously required a permit due to a legal technicality.
Parramatta Historical Archaeological Landscape Management Study As a part of the State Government’s property strategy in Parramatta, a number of redundant parcels of land in Government ownership were identified for sale or redevelopment. As there are significant archaeological heritage issues in relation to all these sites, the Heritage Office successfully proposed that State government funding be made available to undertake an overall archaeological study for Parramatta, rather than five separate, disconnected studies. Additional funding was also made available by Parramatta City Council, the Property Council of Australia and Parramatta Chatswood Rail Link. The study is a major partnership between these organisations.
This study commenced in February 2000 and is due for completion in October 2000. It encompasses all land within the area covered by the Parramatta Regional Environmental Plan and will provide a comprehensive overview of the archaeological resources of the area. It will also make an integrated set of planning and heritage management recommendations.
The results of this study will be available as a linked database and Geographic Information System, which will be available through Parramatta City Council. This project is being managed by the Heritage Office, as a joint initiative of NSW Treasury, the Department of Public Works and Services, Parramatta City Council, the Department of Transport, the Property Council of Australia and the Heritage Council.
Godden Mackay Logan was engaged to undertake the project. It is anticipated that on completion the study will be merged with the built, Aboriginal, significant vegetation and views studies to provide an integrated management system for heritage in Parramatta and to allow the management of its significant archaeological resources on a regional basis, rather than site by site.
Colonial Gardens of the Cumberland Plain & Camden Study
In July 1997 the Minister approved grant funding for a study of pre-1860 colonial gardens of the Cumberland Plain and Camden. This work has been undertaken by the National Trust of Australia (NSW) over three years, with a steering committee comprising
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representatives of the Heritage Office, Historic Houses Trust, National Trust, Royal Australian Historical Society and other experts in the field of historic gardens.
The need for this study arose from concern that significant colonial gardens are being rapidly lost by inappropriate decisions arising from development pressures to the west and south of Sydney. The study aims to provide an overview of remaining gardens and to recommend how they can be conserved and managed. It is also expected to encourage nominations to the State Heritage Register and recommendations to local councils on the appropriate zoning and management of these historic places.
In the last year the Heritage Council has received draft reports on a number of remnant estates across the Cumberland Plain. It is anticipated the study will be completed later in 2000, leading to a number of nominations to the State Heritage Register, and review of the adequacy of curtilages and planning controls affecting properties already listed.
PROTECTION THROUGH PLANNING INSTRUMENTS
Local Environmental Plans
The Heritage Act requires all local environmental plans that affect a place of heritage significance to contain provisions that will facilitate the conservation of that place. The Heritage Council and Heritage Office examine draft local environmental plans and provide advice to councils about whether the plan complies with the requirements of the Act.
During the year the Heritage Council endorsed local environmental plans for North Sydney, Drummoyne, Albury, Gosford, Bega Valley, Woollahra, Rockdale and Parramatta.
The Director of the Heritage Office endorsed plans for Nundle, Blayney, Young, Rockdale, Kogarah, Ashfield, Ku-ring-gai, North Sydney, Sutherland, Campbelltown, Mulwaree, Windouran, Willoughby, Great Lakes, Manly, Camden, Bathurst, Kogarah, Wingecarribee, Newcastle, Pittwater, Cooma-Monaro, Holroyd, Snowy River, Cabonne, Hornsby, Penrith, Shoalhaven and Wollondilly.
Preliminary comments were made under the Heritage Act 1977 and the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 about a further 131 draft environmental planning instruments.
An issue of increasing concern to the Heritage Council is the redevelopment of complex cultural landscapes. Two examples considered by the Heritage Council in 1999-2000 are:
Harrington Park, Camden Harrington Park at Camden is one of the few surviving remnant colonial landscapes in the Cumberland Plain. It has been progressively redeveloped for residential development over recent years and the new development is encroaching on the historic core of the property.
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The Heritage Council has provided comments to Camden Council and the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning regarding the necessity of retaining a meaningful curtilage for the homestead as a colonial house and garden in a pastoral setting. Care has been taken to retain physical and visual connection with contributory elements of the local landscape such as the creek and surrounding hills, as well as to minimise the impact of the boundary between residential development and the historic site by treatment of the access roads, planting and housing design. The developer has agreed to redesign the proposed development to achieve this.
Land abutting Camden Park Estate, South Camden An application was received from Wollondilly Shire Council to rezone approximately 80 hectares of land at South Camden for residential development. The proposed subdivision is located adjacent to Camden Park Estate, including the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute and Belgenny Farm, and Camden Park House. These are the core of John Macarthur’s pastoral holdings and the birthplace of Australia’s agricultural wealth. Together they form an effectively intact and most important historical landscape at local, state and national levels of significance. A large part of the significance of this cultural landscape is due to the pastoral, Arcadian character and use of the estate. The land to be rezoned is currently rural in character and reads as an integral part of this landscape.
The Heritage Council has advised Wollondilly Shire Council, the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning and the Minister that the approval of the development as currently proposed would have significant impact on the heritage significance of the place.
Mount Penang, Gosford The former Mount Penang Juvenile Detention Centre is being redeveloped as a major Government initiative to provide the Central Coast with long-term economic benefits and jobs. The development will include:
· a centre for floral/horticultural exhibitions; · an Australian Football League/cricket facility; · gardens, restaurants, accommodation and facilities to attract tourists.
These will be supported by commercial development on the site. First settled in 1912 as a model farm for the reform and detention of juveniles, the property contains a variety of buildings, including dormitories, administration facilities, staff residences and farm structures. The heritage assessment prepared for the site found that individual buildings, groups of buildings and landscapes and the entire cultural landscape are all highly significant. The plan proposes several layers of heritage listing: · the entire site with the exception of the new juvenile justice centre is to be identified as a heritage conservation area; · two historic precincts - the home farm and the McCabe complex;
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· 12 landscape elements, including the avenue plantings, dams and the bushland on the eastern side of the site; and · 36 individual items (mostly within these precincts) to be listed as heritage items.
The heritage significance of the cultural landscape will be retained, with development only allowed in the western zone. The eastern bushland will remain undeveloped with an open space zone. The new juvenile justice centre will be in its own zone.
The Heritage Council’s consideration of the draft plan for the rezoning of the site has resulted in some innovative initiatives for its management, and could be considered a model for plans covering similar large sites that have complex heritage significance.
The best way to ensure that all development respected the heritage significance and still minimise the number of consents required was to use a detailed conservation management plan. This will provide a framework for all change to the site and identify those works which could be done without further development consent. More major work will still require the normal approvals.
Parramatta Regional Environmental Plan
In September 1996 the Premier announced that a Regional Environmental Plan (REP) would be developed for Parramatta as Sydney’s second main centre of business and population, focusing on issues of heritage, access and urban design.
The Heritage Office has been an active partner with the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning and Parramatta City Council in preparing and implementing the REP. The Department of Transport, the Roads and Traffic Authority, the business community and community groups have also been closely involved.
The plan consists of a four-part package of documents:
· a planning strategy outlining planning objectives for each city precinct; · a supporting access strategy covering public and private transport improvements; · a statutory plan outlining the planning controls; and · an action plan outlining its implementation. The REP package covers the area from Westmead in the west to Rydalmere and Camellia in the east, and builds on the Parramatta Strategy public discussion paper of 1997.
The REP:
· integrates heritage into the planning process to provide certainty, help guide decisions on the future shape of the city and to encourage development without losing Parramatta’s particular quality and identity as an historic settlement with many layers of heritage values;
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· defines special areas where heritage is the key character element, and provides controls and guidelines to encourage development that enhances that character;
· provides controls and guidelines so that heritage items in areas of intensive new development are respected by new development around them;
· identifies opportunities for viable and appropriate adaptive reuse of heritage properties and strategies to provide supporting infrastructure;
· proposes strategies for the development of a heritage tourism industry. These include enhancement of infrastructure, access and links and better coordination, presentation and interpretation of heritage places. The Heritage Office convened a working party of groups involved in heritage place promotion and management services in Parramatta to improve coordination of services and communication between parties, and to prepare a heritage walking tour brochure;
· provides for the acquisition of strategic open space to reveal and enhance key heritage items; and
· provides links between key heritage sites and precincts.
The final REP package was gazetted and came into effect on 30 August 1999.
Heritage Council Members endorsed the draft Amendment 2 to the Parramatta Local Environmental Plan 1996 which updates the heritage provisions in parts of Parramatta not covered by the REP, and replaces the previous heritage clauses and adds items and heritage conservation areas. In addition the Heritage Office has been involved in the preparation of master plans for the civic centre and North Parramatta.
Important elements of the REP’s access strategy regarding the State Government’s public transport infrastructure commitments to Parramatta have also moved forward during this year, including preparation of environmental impact statements for the Parramatta – Chatswood Rail Link, the Parramatta – Liverpool Rapid Transit Corridor and the proposed Parramatta Rail – Bus Interchange.
The Heritage Office has also been involved with the preparation of planning studies on the Camellia and Rydalmere precincts over the past year. The studies focus on these precincts’ future development potential and benefits from infrastructure improvements such as the construction of the Parramatta Rail Link.
Government Heritage Assets in North Parramatta
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The Department of Public Works and Services has prepared a conservation management plan and a master plan for the North Parramatta Government sites. These documents form part of a whole-of-Government approach to the management and redevelopment of major State Government heritage assets in Parramatta.
The properties adjoin the Parramatta River in the city and North Parramatta, including Parramatta Gaol, Cumberland Hospital East (former Female Factory, Gaol and Lunatic Asylum), the Norma Parker Centre and Kambala (former Roman Catholic Orphan School). City sites include Parramatta Hospital and the Marsden Rehabilitation Centre at the Old Kings School.
The sites were developed from as early as 1792 and represent over 200 years of continuous government institutional use in Parramatta. They form a broader cultural landscape of national heritage significance and include designed and natural landscapes, buildings, historic plantings, open space and considerable archaeological resources.
The Heritage Office and Heritage Council are working with the Department of Public Works and Services which is co-ordinating the preparation of a master plan, component conservation management plans, economic feasibility studies and redevelopment proposals by a number of Government agencies.0
Parramatta Regional Park
Parramatta Regional Park is listed on the State Heritage Register as a nationally significant cultural landscape and major open space for the people of Western Sydney. It contains landscape, archaeological and built remnants of the earliest European settlement in the region as the structure of its early 19th century landscape is largely intact.
In 1997 the park became a Regional Park managed by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). The Heritage Council was advised of major developments over the past year, which included important management planning work and the implementation of a program of capital works improvements to the park.
These included the undertaking of a study of traffic, parking and safety within the park, works in the Crescent area to improve foot access and plantings, removal of the old tram tracks and reinstatement of grassed areas above the Crescent.
The Heritage Council continues to take an active interest in the effective conservation and interpretation of Parramatta Regional Park. Funding of $20,000 has been provided to match $20,000 from the NPWS for the preparation of a landscape master plan to guide future decisions and priority works within the park.
The Parramatta – Chatswood Rail Link has the potential to impact on Parramatta Park. The Heritage Council has been involved in negotiations to ensure that any adverse impacts from this development are minimised.
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